Dirigible airship and the like.



J. A. ARMSTRONG. DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1913.

1,109,502, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

-3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOm-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C,

J. A. ARMSTRONG. DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP AND THE LIKE. APPLIGATION FILED NOV.22, 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Mifizws es,

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

J. A. ARMSTRONG.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1913.

1,109,502, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

s SHEETSSHBET s.

1767276 M7. fl'mdiralg 6; .Q. QM

' THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ARTHUR ARMSTRONG, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

DIRIGIBLEAIRSHIP AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ARTHUR ARM STRONG, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing in London, England, and whOsepost-oflice addressis Gilnockie,vWestcombe Park, in the county of London, Eng. land, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Dirigible Airships andthe like, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to dirigible air ships and the like andconsistsof ;an improved construction and arrangement of parts having fortheir Object a rigidity and stiffness in the chassis or framing, as wellas in the parts associated, with the motive and guiding devices, greaterthan has been the {case heretofore with a corresponding amount ofmaterial.

, The improved airship comprises a compound arrangement of a number ofelongated "cigar or other shaped gas envelops 0r balloonsarranged-around and longitudinally to'a central rigidly constructedframe or. back-bone. To a great extent the proposed structure followsnatures design of the vertebrate skeleton with" its back-bone andribs,for I propose to employ three or more sets of ribs surrounding onebackbone, to substitute balloons in the place of the animals body and toform theribs into a star-like section with pairs of adjacent ribsconnected together to form struts which would carry ties to theextremities of the back-bone in place of the ligaments and skin in thecase of the animal. 7 The invention will be described with reference tothe accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which-- i Figure 1 is atransverse section of an air ship with the invention applied and withcertain auxiliary parts depicted in broken lines; Fig. 2 is an obliquecross section of the ship; Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal section, thegas envelops being indicated in broken lines; Fig. 4 is a part crosssection of an air ship showing a modification; Figs.

5 and 6 are details relating to rudders or fins, and Fig. 7 is atransverse section of a modification. I r H On referring to the drawingsit will be seen that the framework consists of a central member l whichcarries a series of sets of .ribs 2,'the sets being spaced apart and theribsthemselves preferably concave out- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Application filed November 22, 1913. Serial No. 802,485.

wardly so'as to form cradles for the reception of the gas envelops orballoons 4. The ribs of each set are connected near their ends to formstruts or posts encircling the center member, while tension members ortie rods 3 rest on and connect one set of these posts with the adjacentset or sets, the tie rods converging to and being strained on the end ofthe said central member which is thus converted into an. all roundtrussed column or girder as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. i

, The central member itself may be a spar, bamboo, or of metal, it maybe tubular or built up of star section orhave the character of a clustercolumn or other suitable form.

Each of the ribs 2 is connected near its middle to the central memberand the ribs of a set are joined together in pairs with or withoutintermediate bracing. Such intermediate bracing is shown at 2 and 2 inFig. 7 j

The sets may be braced in the longitudinal direction of the structure,any one set to the to the rib cradles, and to the ends of the framing.The whole series of balloons and netsmay be held together, so as toavoid any rolling or working about of the separate balloons, by lacingor net work 6 disposed tangentially between adjacent balloon nettlngs.

j The usual car or cars for the accommodation of the crew, the motivepower, stores, ammunition and other articles are also connected rigidlyto the main frame and tied to it in convenient manner, as for example byties 16. For this purpose some of theribs may be prolonged or furnishedwith extensions 8 which may be continued in the'form of a ring 9tocontain or embrace the car 17. This construction is obviously a somewhatelastic arrangement and would afford relief to the machine on taking theground.

This relief may be further developed as shown in Fig. i, to constitute abuffer car, the supporting member taking a D or G shaped spring form 10to which longitudinal sleigh spring runners or wheels, not shown in thedrawing, may be fitted for stability and ease of grounding and movement.These spring rings may or may not be separate from those holding thecars.

"Wings, rudders, fins or sails 14%, can readily be fitted between theballoons as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and on' end, in Figs. 5 and 6.

The actual holding and guiding members or spars 15 for such devices canhave bear ings 18 rigidly supported from the central member and thestayed ends of the struts 2 and can be adapted to be readily controlledby suitable gear or connections operable from within the car. Fig. 5shows a single axis or single stemmed fan-shaped. rudder or fin, such asthe steering rudder 1a in Fig. 8. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of adouble aXis or a two stemmed sail or fin 1d of greater length, andwherein both stems similarly control the inclinations of the fin orplaneto the main framework as a means for raising or depressing the air-ship-In this case the two stems may be cranked or suitably bent in the partsbeyond their bearings.

The elongated gas envelops 4 may be sub divided or comprise severalsections, while appropriate means may beprovided for reefingor furlingthe envelops so that the lifting may be diminished or that they may bereadily stowed away in their respective cradles. Y

The central member 1 when of a tubular construction may be used as avacuum or pressure reservoir which can'be brought into service for anypurpose as circumstances may require. If it be desirable to increase thetubular central member to its greatest capacity it may be inwardly tiedor other wise stiffened. In the case of a central member of the open orbuilt up class, a gas en-.

velop may be inclosed therein as a means of regulating displacement.

Suitable means may be provided on one or more (the top one in the caseof three, as shown, by preference) of the gas envelops for deflation toany desired extent so as to balance the weight of fuel, projectiles orother materials as they are expended without disturbingthe equilibriumor poise of the ship.

The form of framing above described is most suitable for taking thethrust of propulsion along the axis of the ship and does away with allthe cross strains that arise when driving from under-cars orsidebrackets. Fig. 3 shows a propeller l1 fitted in the axis of theship, and it may be driven by an electric motor 12 disposed outside orinside the central frame and axis, the necessary internal combustionengine and dynamo for driving the motor being situated in the car, ,amethod that has been successfully adopted in; the case of some types ofomnibuses and cars. In this position also the propeller screw is in nodanger of damage when the shipgrounds, and is freer when putting themachine into motion; but ofcourse the propeller 13 can, if desired, befitted alternatively or in addition to the cars or brackets provided forthe purpose.

Other forms of propulsion may be employed such as that detailedcopending United States application Serial No.

609,245 and wherein a propeller is used that is capable of propellingbackward or forward or up and down or in any direction either in air orwater, or traveling on land.

Fig. 7 shows a modification wherein the series of balloons 4:, clusteredround the central longitudinal frame, are inclosed within an outerenvelop or balloon 7, of circular section, but it may, as depicted inFig. 7, be flattened underneath. It is provided with an opening orsleeve 7 through which pass the eXtensions'8 of the ribs 2, bracedtogether and carrying the spring bufier device 10 which can be of a sizeto encircle and leave a clear space or margin around a car carried inthe ring members 9 supported as in Fig. 1' from other rib extensions 8,The rib extensions traversing the sleeve pass through a flangeddiaphragm 7 secured in suitable manner to the sleeve 7. The outerenvelop 7 is stiffened to the central longitudinal frame by the rigidlyconnected inner balloons, against which it bears for their wholelengths.

Having now described the nature of'my said invention and the best meansI know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim v 1. Adirigible air-ship or the like, having a longitudinal rigid framecomprising a central compression member, a plurality of radiallydisposed struts connected with and projecting from the central member,and tension members connecting the outer ends of the struts and the endsofthe central member, said central member being thereby placed incompression anda lurality of elongated gas envelops att'ac led to anddisposed in clustered and longitudinal relation to said frame. I, f

2. In a dirigible air-ship or the like, the combination of alongitudinal rigid frame comp ising a central compression member, aplurality of radially disposed struts connected with. and projecting"from the central member, and tension members connecting the outer endsofthe struts and velops attached to said frame and a propeller rotatablymounted 011 one end of the frame and in axial alinement therewith.

3. In a dirigible air-ship or the like, having stiifening meanscomprising a longitudinally arranged compression member, a plurality ofsets of ribs, said sets being spaced apart along the length of thecompression member and the ribs of each set connected together in pairsto constitute struts, tension members correlated with said struts andmeans for securing the tension members to the ends of the compressionmember. M

4. A dirigible air-ship or the like having stiffening means comprising alongitudinally arranged compression'member, a plurality of sets of ribs,said sets being spaced apart along the length of the compression memberand the ribs of each set connected together in pairs to constitutestruts, tension members correlated with said struts and adjustable meansfor securing the tension members to the ends of the compression member.

5. A dirigible air-ship or the like having stiffening means comprising alongitudinally. arranged compression member, a plurality of sets ofribs, said sets being spaced apart along the length of the compressionmember and the ribs of each set connected together in pairs toconstitute struts, tension members correlated with said struts, meansfor securing the tension members to the ends of the compression memberand bracings connecting adjacent sets of ribs.

6. A dirigible air-ship or the like having stifiening means comprising alongitudinally arranged compression member, a plurality of sets of ribs,said sets being spaced apart along the length of the compression memberand the ribs of each set connected together in pairs to constitutestruts, tension members correlated with said struts, adjustable meansfor securing the tension memhere to the ends of the compression member,and bracings connecting adjacent sets of ribs. 1

7. Ina dirigible air-ship or the like, having a plurality of gasenvelops, the -combi, nation of a central support arranged longietudinally to the axis of the ship, and a series of strut devicesattached to said support and to each other, said devices comprisingparts formed as cradles surrounding, the support for the reception of,the gas envelops.

8. In a dirigible air-ship or the like, the

combination of a longitudinally arranged compression member, a pluralityof sets of ribs, said sets being spaced apart along the length of thecompression member and the ribs of each set connected together in pairsto constitute struts, tension members correlated with said struts,adjustable means for securing the tension members to the ends of thecompression members, parts extending from the ribs and a car attached tosaid parts.

9. In a dirigible air-ship or the like, the combination of alongitudinally arranged compression member, a plurality of sets of ribs,said sets being spaced apart along the length of the compression memberand the ribs of each set connected together in pairs to constitutestruts, tension members correlated with said struts, adjustable meansfor securing the tension members to the ends of the compression member,and depending spring buffer devices connected to ,the sets of ribs forthe purposes described.

10. In a dirigible air-ship or the like the combination of a rigid framecomprising a central compression member arranged longitudinally to theaxis of the ship and trussed all around, a plurality of, elongatedgas'envelops secured to said frame, and an outer gas envelop adapted toinclose and bear against the exterior'surfaces of said elongatedballoons for the purpose described.

11. In a dirigible air-ship or the like the combination of a rigid framecomprising a central compression member arranged longitudinally to theaxis of the airship and trussed all around, a plurality of elongated gasenvelops secured to said frame, an outer gas envelop adapted to incloseand bear against the exterior surfaces of said elongated balloons forthe purpose descrlbed; a

propeller rotatably mounted exteriorly to said outer gas envelop on anend of the frame and in axial alinement therewith, guiding surfaces,pivotally mounted on said frame, and structures supported from saidframe and adapted for the reception of the crew, power generating andother devices.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

, JOHN ARTHUR ARMSTRONG. WVitnesses:

Josnrrr MILLARD, WALTER J. SKERTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C.

